Want to get SUMPED UP & need your help!!

[bigbris1]

The Story:

I have a 55 gallon tank w/o a sump.

The space under the stand is limited which was key to me going sumpless in the first place.

I'm going to remove this beam in the inside rear

in order to fit this acrylic tank (in which I plan to glue baffles in & plug the holes) under there.

I planned on drilling my tank (fully stocked, don't want to remove anything in it except some of the water) & using the 1" bulkhead that came with the acrylic tank for a gravity drain. So I ran some searches & read that drilling near the top of the tank decreases the flow to the sump due to lack of head pressure.

Also, this eliminates surface skimming. Then I thought about drilling the tank & doing a DIY corner-in-tank-overflow, but then I would have to empty the tank

Someone please set me straight on this. Please. Is it possible to:

1. Drill tank for 1" bulkhead near top of the tank
2. Still somehow have surface skimming ability
3. Run clear ID tubing from the bulkhead straight to the sump
4. Return "clean water" to tank via internal pump/clear ID tubing/bulkhead attached to hole drilled in opposite side of tank
5. Enjoy benefits of sump?

What kind of flow rate am I looking at if I did #1?

Please heeeeeeellllppp!

Thanks!

Bristol

 

[crox99]

If you remove the beam in the middle of the stand would that weaken the stand?

 

[bigbris1]

If you remove the beam in the middle of the stand would that weaken the stand?

Definitely, but I have no time for that now. Should I drill & how do I solve the surface skimming problem without the noise?

 

[NYreefNoob]

sump

a bulb head at the top for drain reduces surface skimming ? unless i read it wrong, but all it drains is the water from the surface

 

[alistair]

Why drill your FULL tank when you could install a HOB overflow that does the same job?

 

[bigbris1]

Something about flooding & noise & not having an unsightly box on my tank.

 

[Bob 1000]

Yes this is possible all you need is a person with 1 and 1/4in drill bit(diamond of course)...I got my last tank drilled stocked,you just have to drain 25% of the water...Or you could buy the bit on Ebay....A cheap one but you only get 2 or 3 uses out of it....I plan on drilling my current tank in the next couple of weeks...I need more flow so I will be doing a second closed loop...If i can get the bit before you we can work something out...I plan on drilling myself...I have done it before so I'm not worried...

 

[bigbris1]

I got the return pump (Quiet One 3000) today. I have the sump. I have the baffles (3 1/16" acrylic sheets).

I think I'm going to order the 2 bits from Hong Kong via ebay. Now all I need is the plumbing (so far like $50 worth of stuff at aquacave . com) & some weld-on #4.

Anyone have any weld-on #4 laying around?

 

[bigbris1]

Plumbing came today. I put eveything together & need to order a couple more pieces.

Bits were shipped out yesterday, hopefully I'll get them next week around the same time the rest of of plumbing pieces arrive.

 

[carpediem212]

Good luck w/ the whole process, please post some pics if possible.

 

[bigbris1]

I got a little nervous from the poll thread, but thanks for the vote of confidence. I'm going to drill it.

 

[Bob 1000]

What happened with your drill???

 

[Killerdrgn]

Oh yeah those ebay drills can take more than 2 - 3 holes, on my 65mm drill i got about 7 - 8 holes drilled before it was basically useless. Put four 1.5" bulkheads into my sump array and had a bunch of practice holes. But again YMMV i took really good care of mine and had it under flowing water while drilling at all times.
My 45mm has already drilled five holes and still looks pretty good.